RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT REEFTON.

Inangahua Times, Volume III, Issue 94, 26 March 1877, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT REEFTON.

Saturday, March, 24th* 1877. [Before Edward Shaw, Esq., R.M.] FURIOUS BIDING. Robert Qraig and Timothy O'Neil were summoned, at the instance of the police on a charge of furious riding in Broadway on the 20th instant. The defendant Craig did not appear, aud Sergeant Neville explained that the summons could not be served on him. Mr O'Neil denied the offence. Constable Jeffries was called, and said that on the day referred to he saw the defendants riding furiously up Broadway, A number of people were in the street at the time. Both tbe defendants were racing and urging their horses to the utmost speed. It was just at tbe time when the children were going to the pic-uic, and the people in the street were flying out of the road of the horses. (

Crosi-examined by defendant : I saw numbers of people h the street at the time. You were racing not centering, I believe you had no spurs on, and tbe horse was barebacked. You admitted to me directly afterwards that you had been racing with Craig. I did say that you were riding furiously. You wanted me to have a drink and settle it. A. D. Bayfeild : I saw O'Neill riding furiously along Broadway on tbe day in question. I consider the pace at which be was riding was too fast altogether, I saw a woman run behind a post to get out of the way of the horses. The defendants were both riding above the ordinary speed. The horses did not seem beyond control. Cross-examined by defendant : I saw a woman run and get behind a p?st for safety. I was sanding opposite Dawson's Hotel, and the woman was crossing tbe street towards Jolliffe's. She bad not t<me to cross. Craig rain under Davidson's verandah, and it was there be pulled up. You hauled in opposite Dawson's and pulled in at Devery's. I saw you had no saddle on, and was astonished to see you riding at such a pace. Timothy 0?leil : I am a butcher at Murray Creek. On the day in question I caught my horse near Gilmer's stables. and having put the bridle on I jumied on his back, and was coming along the road wben Craig came along* when we started in a pretty stiff canter, His mare was fresh,, and my horse does not like to be passed, so we jogged along at a nice stiff canter. I could see up Broadway to ! the Banks, and there was not a son! in the j street. I had my borse under perfect I control, and could have pulled up at any I moment witbin five yards. We cantered \ altogether about 26 or SO yards. We started at Gilmer's stables and polled' up at Angelo's. I did not reckon we were in the town at ail. Sergeant Neville said that this was one of a number of cases which occured almost daily in tbe streets. Only yesterday he saw some men riding at a furious pace through the streets, but they had gone to Boatman's and the- police had not yet been able to ascertain their names. Cross-examined by defendant : I have seen you riding furiously on previous oc* | casions. I call " furious riding " the pace you generally go at. When I gave you tbe summons you said you were only going at a mild trot. The Magistrate said he considered' the charge fully proved. The case was, be believed, the first of tbe kind brought before the Court, and thefore the full penalty would not he inflicted, but the fine would be sufficient to act as a lesson ! to defendant and others who were in the habit of galloping through the srreets and more particularly flying round corner, to the danger of the lives and limbs of the residents. Equestrians should understand that the streets of the town were not for the purposes of galloping upon. Fined £5. civil CASES. Smith and Barkley v. Fowler.— £2o 10s* for goods (supplied. No appearance of defendant. Judgment for the amount with costs. Inangahua Local Revenues Board v, Jacobsen. — £14 Is, for special rate* Judgment for £11 Is and costs. Bank of New Zealand v. New Royal Standard Company. — £6 8s 10s, cash ad* vanced. No appearance of defendents. Judgment for the amount with costs.